Fluid line connection



'-Dec.l'24, 1940. s. wlLTsE FLUID LINE CONNECTION original Filed May 51, 19:54

INV EN TOR..

....m. win m A www w., N M U S l Patented Dec. .24,1940- This invention relates generally to connec-v tions between tubing and fittings therefor, especially to fluid-tight connections between thin walled tubing and sectional ttings, and consti- 3l, 1934, bearing Serial No. 728,33.

Heretofore connections of various kinds have been made for eiecting huid-tight joints between Y tubing and fixtures therefor, butin so far as I am aware none has been provided wherein the connection includes `a resilient member that not only serves as a seal but as a sound deadener, and is constructed to prevent withdrawal of the tion; tubing endwlse from the tting while allowing universal or angular movement of thetubing relative tothe fitting and to prevent fatigue or breakage of the metal of the tube adjacent the i l ratus such as a carburetor' -It is also an -object of the present invention to provide a connection that is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and easy toassemble and install. A Another object is to provide 'a connection wherein cooperating `sections of the iittlng have means for definitely and accurately locating the plication of the fitting thereto. x

Another object is to provide a connection wherein the clearance between the tting and tubing is sufllcient to permit the universal or angular movement mentioned but is small enough to effectively prevent the resilient member from extruding lengthwise of the fitting when squeezed by the cooperating parts aforesaid of the fitting. Another object is to provide l a connection wherein the resilient member and cooperating parts of the fitting are constructed and arranged in such a way relative to the tubing that the resilient member when squeezed by said cooperating Darts will exert sufilcient pressure circumferentially of the tubing to form in the vlatter a "transversely ,curved annular groove or 1 indentation which together with the rounded ,engaging surface 'of the distorted resilient member will permit the universal or angular movement o f the tubing relativeto the fitting according to the amount of clearance aforesaid that is provided. Another: object is to provide a connection wherein the cooperating parts ofthe fitting have means for definitely limitingfthe squeezing action thereof against the resilient member sothat UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICEA FLUID LINE CONNECTION Sumner Wiltse, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Arthur S. Allen, Detroit, Mich. 1

Acontinuation of application serial No. 128,354,

May ai, me This application April zz, 194|,

serial No. 331,003

5 Claims. (Cl. 285-90) e by the resilient member will correspondingly be predetermined.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more a tutes a continuation of my-application filed May apparent as this description proceeds, especially 5 when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein: e

Figure 1 is a fragmentary and partly cross sectional view illustrating a fuel or oil line coinprisinga metal tube having a rubber covering 10 wherein an end sector of the rubber is removed as a preliminary. step-to ein buretor.

as gasoline, oil, etc., from any or appliance. I

The fitting B is also formed of. metal and prel'- 30 erably comprises three sections II, I2 and I3, respectively. Preferably the section II has a polygonal body Il provided at opposite sides thereof with exteriorly threaded nipple portions vI5 and. Il, respectively. In the present instance, the 35 nipple portion' I5 is smaller indiameter than the nipple portion II and` engagesA an interiorly threaded e I'I in the casing Il of a car- The nipple portion I6 has a smaller crosssection thanl the polygonal body I4 and 40 'is spaced therefrom by a grooved lateral pro- Jectiony Il of the body. 'I'he second -section I2 is in the form of a ferrule andi has a tubular portion 2l, an outwardly oilset annular portion 2l and an intermediate connecting shou1der22. 'e5 Preferably the tubular portion 20 is sleevedupon the tubing A- inside a suitable resilient hose-like covering D for' 'the tubing, while the annular portion 2| encircles -in telescoping relation an annular projection 23o! the nipple portion I0 6u Any suitable means such asv 1 vthe clamp E encircling the resilient covering. Dv upon adiustmentof one oi' said cooperating parts may be used to secure the covering tothe tubular a 4predetermined distance relative tov the other, vportion 2l of the second section I 2. If desired, the depthof indentation made in the tubing the outer surface of the tubular portion 20 may 65 of 'the section I I.

ploying the connec- Figure 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a fluid line connection constructed according to one form of the invention and as applied for connecting the line shown by Figure 1 to appa- Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, A is the tubing,

B is the tting and C is the resilient sealing mem- -v ber of a connection embodying'my invention.

As shown, the tubing A is formed of relatively soft metal such as aluminum, copper and the 25 'resilient member on the tubing upon initial apuke and has thin Walls Such tubng may be any suitable size for conducting ilulds such suitable device 2 A Y be grooved or roughenedvas at 24 to insure a non-slip connection between the covering D and tubular part 2l of the second section I2. In

this connection' it will be noted -that the resilient covering D terminates short of the offset annuouter end of the annular portion 2| of the second section I2. At the other side of the third section I3 is an annular lateral projection 22 that is en'- gageable with the polygonal body'll of the first section II to limit movement of the third section I3 toward said first section.'

the position illustrated in Figure 2, the end .29 of the projection 2l of the first section I I and' the shoulder 22 of the second section I2 are spaced apart and cooperate with the annular por- ',tion 2| to form an annular channel or groove 30 having diverging walls.

The resilient sealing'member C is in the form of an annulus and is preferably made of synthetic rubber impervious to gasoline and oil and having advantageous characteristics for the purposes forwhich it is used. As shown, this annular 'sealing member C engages an annular indentation 3l in the tubing A and the diverging walls of the groove Il-in the fitting. In practice, such sealingimember C is squeezed by the diverging walls of the 40 groove I. into fluid-tight engagement with the.

vannular indentation II in the tubing. lActually the inside diameter of the sealing member `C be- .iore it is applied to the tubing is slightly less than the outside diameter thereof ,so that such sealing member has to be stretched somewhat when it is initially slipped over the free end of the tubing. Moreover, such 'tubing is initially of uniform diameter without any indentation such 'as SI. However, due to the construction and arrangement of the-sections n, lz end n of the fitting,.- the nature and formation of the sealing member.

C and the thin walls III of the tubing, the annular indentation 2| in .the tubing -will be formed by the resilient sealing member C when the latter is squeezed sufficiently by the diverging walls of the groove 2 2. As shown, this indentation Il is curved ^transversely and the engaging surface of the sealing member C is correspondingly rounded. Moreover, there is suili'cient clearance between the tubing A and inside walls 22 of the nipple portion I! and between the tubing and inside walls 23 of thetubularpart 2l of the second sec'- tion I2 of the fitting to permit angular or universal movement of the tubing about the center 05 of the annular sealing member C. In this con- -nection it shouldbe appreciated that the surfaces of the sealing member C adhere or remain in nxed relation to the surfaces of thelgroove I l and .indentation SI, and that the angular or universal '1 movement or the tubing wiu be permitted by :.movement of the yieldable or flexible'material witmn-tne resinen't body of the seeung member C. Thus, there is no relative movement' between the sealing member and theziltting or the tubing 1I that would cause wear 'and ultimate leakage' as lar portion 2| of the second section I2 so as to4 the exteriorly threaded nipple portion I6 of the' and provided at its free end in' the annular space.

In the presentv instance, when the parts are in would be the case if a metal or other nonyielding Y or non-'exible Isealing material were' employed.

-However, the' seal effected. by the member C 'remains intactvduring such angular or universal 'movement .Preferably the synthetic rubber used in the sealing member C -.has all the advantages of natural rubber in so far as deformation, iiexibil ity, tensile strength, etc., are concerned, end in additionl to being impervious to gasolines and oils vit will stand heat up to approximately 350 F.

Although the clearance provided between the tubing A and sections II' and'I2 of .the fitting is suicient to permit a. limited angular 'or universal movement, it is insumcient to-'permit extrusion of the particular sealing member C endwise of the tubing outwardly through theiitting. Thus, the pressure exerted'by the sealing ring is transverse only of the tubing. Preferably the clear. ance is approximately .004 inch which is satisfactory for both purposes. l

It should also be noted that thecooperating 'sections Il and I2 of the fitting are formed so that they will-locate or position 'the sealing ring C at the proper-point on the tubing afterits' ini-v tial application thereto.' For example, if the ring C is not slipped far enough on' the tubing, then the end 22 ofthe projection23 of the rst 'section I I will push the ring forward to the proper place. If the ring C is slipped too -far 'on the. tubing, then the shoulder 2'2 of the second. section I2 will' push the ring back to the proper place. Thus, `when the sections II and.I2 areinitiallydrawn together by the 'third section I3, the ring C will be at the proper point of the tubing .relative to the free end thereof, and when the sections II and I2 are adjusted further so that suflicient pressure is exerted thereby against' the .ring VC to causeb it to form the annular indentation' 3l in the tubingr the indentation so formed will bein proper spaced relation to the free end of the tubing to provide an emcient construction.'A Engagement of the annular projection 2l of" the third section I3 with the polygonal body Il of the first section lI I will limltthe squeezing pressure on the sealing ring C so that the'depth of the indentation ll formed by the' squeezing action will be 1' predetermined and controlled. This limiting feature is important because it insures a definite constriction upon the tube. v Thus, from the foregoingfit will'be apparent that the connection has a iluidftight seal and. that the parts accomplishing this are constructed and arranged so that there is no relative movementV between the ring C and A or the ring and iitting B which would cause wear andV result in leakage. The connection also prevents the tubing A from being'laccidentally withdrawn or pressure blown axially of the fitting B, but permitsat the same time angular or universal movement of the tubing A relative to the fitting. B.. Hence, the tubing is relieved of binding strains and stresses, especially in the ,event of misalign- A ment. `Such construction also relieves the'tubgr ing of fatigue and possible breakage adjacent the iltting. 'Ihe use ofthe resilient ring C'also re- 'duces` noise transmission as 'it cushions' 'and 'dampens vibration. l

. WhatI claim as my invention is:

. 1. A iiuidline connection comprising a rubber covered, seamless metal tube wherein the seam.- less metal -tube Projects 'beyond 4the end of the rubber, a ferrule extending between .the rubber and metal tube, means clamping the. rubber y aeeeoso metal tube beyond Vthe end of the ie'rrule,v said space, and a .coupling member -for drawing the ends `of the ferrule and membertoward each other so as to apply compressing forces to the ring and force it into engagement with the metal tube, said metal tube being of smaller outside diameter than the internal diameter of the fer- .rule and iirst mentioned member so that the vmetal tube may have a universal movement rela- 'tive tothe connection, and said rubber ring per-` mitting this universal movement by reason of its resiliency without disturbing the surface engagements of the ring. 'a

2. InV a"connection of the class described, a tube,l a tting encircling the tube with clearance therebetween to permit tilting of the tube relative to the fitting or vice versa, a fluid-tight seal between the tube and iittiig including a ring of resilient material sleeved on the tube Within the fitting-the tube and tting having opposedv an- .nular grooves receiving and cooperating with the ring to prevent endwise movement of the tube relative to the fitting while permitting the tiltingmovement aforesaid, the ringafllling completely and bearingrmly against the walls of the `opposed'annular grooves 'in the tube and fitting so that thetilting action aforesaid is taken up within .the resilient body of the ring, opposite walls of the groove in the fitting being relatively movable and coacting to maintain the firm engagement aforesaid of the ring with the walls of the grooves, the clearance between the tube and tting adjacent opposite walls of the. grooves therein beinginsuiiicient to permit extrusion of the ring from the tting endwise of the tube.

3. In a connection nof the class described, a tube, a fitting encircling the tube with clearance therebetween to permit tilting of the -tube relativev to the fitting or vice versa, said ttingin- .cluding a pair'of members movable relatively along the tube andl a nut threadedly engaging one. of said members and having means for moving the other of said members toward thefflrst mentioned member, said relatively movable members having adjacent wall surfaces definingl a uid-tight seal between the ntting and tube` cooperating therewith to prevent endwise move- 3 ment of the tubev while permitting the tilting movement aforesaid.and including a ringo! resilient material filling completely and bearing rmly againstthe wallsof the grooves, the clearance between the tube and tting adjacent the i walls of the grooves being insufcient to permit extrusion of the'ring from the fitting endwise of the tube.

4. In a connection of the class described, a

tube, a fitting encircling the tube withlclearance 10 therebetween to permit tilting-oi?vv the tube relative to the fitting or vice versa, said 'fitting in-A cluding a pair ofA members movable relatively along the tube` and a nut threadedly engaging` -one of said members and having meansjor mov- `15 ing the other of said members toward the 4first mentioned' member, said relativelyV movable members having adjacent wall surfaces deningV 'an annular groove, the tube having an annular groove opposite the groove just mentioned, and 20 a duid-tight seal between the tting and tube cooperating .therewith to prevent endwise movement of the tube while permitting the tilting themembers aforesaid having portions Aso dimensioned and coacting to limit to a predetermined degree the adjustment of the nut and the 30 amount to which the ring is squeezed by said pair `of members against the tube.

5. IIn a connection4 of the class described, a

tube, a iltting encircling the tube with clearance therebetween to permit tilting of the tube rela- 35 tive tothe tting or viceversa, a :duid-tight seal between the tube and fitting including. a ring of resilient material sleeved on the tube within the ltting', the tube and fitting having opposed annular grooves receiving Aand cooperating with 40 the ring to prevent endwise movement of the tube relative to `tle iltting while permitting the tilting movement aforesaid, oppositel walls of the groove in the' 4tting being relatively movable and coacting to deform or cause toilow the resil- 45 Aduring thetilting movement'aforesaid, the f1tting having means for limiting relative movement between the opposite walls of the groove therein. l

' SUMNER WILTSE. 

